Magnetic pour spout for cans



Dec. 1, 1964 J. A. SEVERINO MAGNETIC POUR SFOU'I' FOR cums Filed May 1. 1961 INVENTOR. v JOSEPH A. .ssvzewq 25 A TT'ORNE YS.

United States Patent Ofi ice 3,1593% Patented Dec. 1, 1964 3,159,321 MAGNETEQ POUR SPGUT 1 6R CANS Filed May 1, 1961, Ser. No. ltiiiaigl 1 Claim. (Q1. ZZZ-57d) The present invention relates to a pour spout which is provided with magnetic means for attachment to a can.

In the past numerous attempts have been made to pro vide a detachable pour spout for cans, out most of these prior devices incorporate mechanical means which may be subject to mechanical marl-function, and may require instruction in order to comprehend their manner or" use.

An object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic pour spout which retains itself attached by magnetic attraction to cans of magnetic permeable material and of approximately the sarne radius.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved pour spout which is adapted to fit, in substantially sealing arrangement on a can, and which embodies magnetic means for holding the spout in proper, pouring position on the can.

These, and other objects and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective View showing the upper portion of a press top can having a double magnet pour spout embodying the invention mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentar, top, plan view of the pour spout and can of FIG. 1, portions being broken away.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional View taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a smaller can and pour spout embodying the invention.

Briefly, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the invention is embodied in a pour spout A formed of suitable material such as plastic or sheet metal and adapted to have fitted engagement with a can B of a radius for which the pour spout is designed. Magnet means, such as double pairs of magnets 19 and ill are securely attached to the under side of the pour spout A in position to engage, and to magnetically attract, the magnetically penmeable side wall 12 of a can B on which the pour spout is mounted.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the can B of FIGS. 14 is assumed to be a gallon can of the type customarily used to contain paint, other liquids or powder, while the can B of FIG. 5 is assumed to be of a similar type but in quart size.

It is well known that most cans are made of sheet steel coated with a light coatin of tin to resist rusting. The cans shown in FEGS. 1 and 5 are of the type known as press top cans, which are provided with a troughed rim 13 around their upper ends for interfitted, sealing relation with a usual cover flange (not shown).

The pour spout A (FIGS. l4-) has a radially outwardly tapered bottom portion 14 and upturned, converging side flanges 17 and 18. The inner, or can edge 19 of the spout bottom portion 14 is curved to conform approximately with the curvature of the radially inward side of the trough 29 in the can rim 13. A downturned flange 21 (FIGS. 3 and 4) also is preferably provided along the curved inner edge 19 of the spout bottom portion 14 to extend downwardly into the can trough 2i) and to fit along the radially inner Wall 22 of said trough.

Eacn pair of magnets 1i) and 11 are of suitable material, such as, for example, the material known as Alnico, and each magnet of each pair thereof is magnetized in a conventional manner so as to be a permanent magnet. Each pair of the magnets, for example the mag nets lit: and 11!) (FIG. 4) are mounted in a channel member 23 which may be of sheet metal, and are se cured therein by rivets 24. An outwardly bent integral flange 25 i provided on the upper end of each magnet mounting channel member 23, and this flange 25 is securely attached to the under side of the spout bottom portion 14 by spot welds 27. The uppermost magnet 11b is mounted slightly below the upper end or" the channel member 23 to provide clearance for the channelforming top rim 13 of a can B.

For applying the pour spout A to a can B for which the pour pout is designed, the spout A is positioned with its curved inner flange 21 slightly above the can trough 2i? and the magnet assemblies'iill and 11 in contact with the side wall 12 of the can. The magnets, by magnetic attraction with the can, urge the pour spout A radially inwardly toward the can, and thereby urge the curved spout flange 21 toward closely fitted relation with the inner wall 22 of the can trough 26. The pour spout is then pressed axially downwardly on the can to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with the curved flange 21 inserted to maximum depth in the can trough 20. The pour spout is then ready for use for directing liquid or powdered contents of the can B into a desired narrow stream, and for preventing dripping of such con tents down the side wall of the can. The pour spout may be easily removed from the can when desired by reversing the steps explained previously herein for applying the pour spout to the can.

The modified, single magnet assembly form of the invention shown in FIG. 5 is preferred for use on smaller cans, such as quart cans or smaller. The structure and operation of the pour spout A shown in FIG. 5 is similar to that of the pour spout A illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and explained previously herein except for its size and the fact that the former has but a single magnet means 24 secured to the under side of the pour spout bottom portion 14 instead of the double magnet assemblies ill and 11 of FIG. 1. The same reference numerals employed in the description of the form A of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 are employed in FIG. 5 with the prime added.

The operation and use of the pour spout A shown in PEG. 5 will be obvious after perusing the foregoing description of the form A of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 14.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention and one modified form thereof, it will be understood, however, that various changes and modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as 3 new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is defined in the following claim:

A pour spout for a press-top can having a lid receiving channel around the upper end thereof, said pour spout comprising a bottom portion, a downturned flange on the radially inward edge of the bottom portion, said flange being shaped to fit freely into, and to conform to, the radially inward side of such channel, a magnet holder comprising a channel member secured to the under side of the pour spout with its open side directed inwardly, the channel memherextending downwardly from the pour spout, a flange on the upper end of the channel member fitted against the under side of the pour spout bottom portion, and a magnet mounted in the channel member and exposed through the open, radially inward side thereof to magnetically attract a side Wall of such can with the pour spout flange inserted in the can channel,

the magnet being so positioned relative to the side of the can when so mounted as to urge the downturnedfiange into close, conforming relation with the radially inward side of such can channel, and in pouring relation with an upper portion of such can, thereby to retain the pour spout in such relation during a pouring of the contents of the can through the pour spout.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,987,834 Li-nthouse Ian. 15, 1935 2,145,632 Polli'frone Ian. 31, 1939 2,682,360 Wigert June 29, 1954 2,812,886 Weinsteln "-2" Nov. 12, 1957 2,990,198 Imming June 27, 1961 3,031,112 Smith Apr. 24, 1962 3,094,253 Hvistendahl June 18, 1963 

